Key Leadership Qualities



I received the below article that I thought would be useful anyone who wishes to read about leadership.

A leader with vision knows where the organization ought to be going and has a clear grasp on what the desired outcome looks like and how to achieve it. In addition to possessing a clear vision, leaders must also be able to effectively share it and decisively act upon it. A leader who is able to communicate clearly and do it with genuine passion will attract enthusiastic and willing followers. The best leaders have the discipline to diligently and single-mindedly work toward his or her vision and in doing so guide their team member’s efforts toward the goal as well.

A person of integrity has the ability to integrate their outward actions and inner values. It is an authentic “what you see is what you get,” situation. This kind of an individual can be trusted to never veer from or compromise their inner values. Leaders with integrity deal honestly, react predictably, control their emotions and are approachable by followers.

A leader with dedication spends whatever time or energy is needed to accomplish the task. Their dedication inspires others when they do whatever it takes to get the job done step-by-step.

Magnanimous leaders cheerfully give credit where it is due. He or she ensures that appropriate accolades are shared as widely as possible throughout the ministry. On the flip side, this type of leader will take personal responsibility for delays or failures. This quality helps build a closer camaraderie among team members. HR veteran David Hakala says, “To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.”

Humility is the hallmark of leaders that recognize that they are neither better nor worse than their team members. Humility is not necessarily self-effacing but in reality is an effort to elevate everyone.

Openness means a leader is receptive to any valid new idea, even if they at first seem a bit off the wall. Good leaders withhold judgment while they listen to and frequently accept others’ ideas. This type of openness establishes and reinforces mutual respect and trust among followers and leaders, plus it creates an environment that is conducive to new ideas that can further its vision.

Creativity is the ability to think outside the traditional box. Creativity gives a leader the capacity to see and sense possibilities and new directions others have not yet seen. “What if...” is perhaps one of the most important questions a leader can ask.

A leader that practices fairness consistently and objectively checks all the facts before passing judgment on a person or situation. By avoiding jumping to conclusions, they end up making wiser judgments and their people feel they are being treated fairly. This nearly always benefits the leader, because it encourages team members' loyalty and dedication.

Good leaders are able to be assertive without coming off as merely aggressive. This allows them to clearly articulate their expectations so that there are far fewer misunderstandings later on. To get the desired results, a leader must be assertive. A companion characteristic to this is being able to understand what followers expect from their leader.

Even in ministry today, stress, tension, hostility and even boredom are commonplace. A leader with a sense of humor is able to relieve and diffuse these potentially damaging issues and to energize their team members. Properly used, humor can be a form of power that can positively influence the whole work environment.

Adapted from David Hakala, “The Top 10 Leadership Qualities,” HR World, 03/19/08